Science on the Roof of the World: Empire and the Remaking of the Himalaya

The Himalaya were the highest mountains in the world in 1800, but in 1856, Mount Everest surpassed them. Science on the Roof of the World tells the story of this shift and the scientific, imaginative, and political remaking needed to fit the Himalaya into a new global scientific and environmental order. Lachlan Fleetwood traces untold stories of scientific measurement and collecting, indigenous labor and expertise, and frontier-making to provide the first comprehensive account of the East India Company's imperial entanglements with the Himalaya.

Format: Hardback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Himalayas, once considered the world's highest mountains, were surpassed by Mount Everest in 1856. This shift in elevation was a result of scientific exploration and discovery. In his book, Science on the Roof of the World, Lachlan Fleetwood delves into the untold stories of scientific measurement, indigenous labor, and frontier-making that shaped the East India Company's imperial entanglements with the Himalayas. Fleetwood argues that to make the Himalayas knowable and globally comparable, it was necessary to erase dependence on indigenous networks and scientific uncertainties. He offers an innovative way of understanding science's global history by demonstrating how geographical features like mountains can serve as scales for new histories of empire.

The book explores the scientific measurement and collecting efforts undertaken by the East India Company, as well as the indigenous labor and expertise that were crucial in understanding the Himalayan landscape. Fleetwood highlights the challenges faced by scientists in navigating the rugged terrain and the complexities of indigenous knowledge systems. He also sheds light on the political and economic factors that influenced the Company's interactions with the Himalayan region, including the competition for trade routes and resources.

Through his comprehensive account, Fleetwood provides a fresh perspective on the history of science and empire. He challenges the traditional narratives that portray the West as the sole agent of scientific progress and highlights the contributions of indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups. He also shows how geographical features like mountains can serve as scales for new histories of empire, highlighting the ways in which they shape the interactions between different cultures and societies.

Science on the Roof of the World is a valuable addition to the field of history and geography, offering a rich and nuanced understanding of the Himalayan region. It provides a valuable insight into the complex relationships between science, empire, and the natural world, and will be of interest to scholars and researchers alike.

Weight: 579g
ISBN-13: 9781009123112